Steffan and Gavia review the much-hyped horror movie Longlegs, starring Maika Monroe as an FBI agent investigating a serial killer (Nicolas Cage) who targets suburban families. Among other topics, this episode explores the film's unsettling atmosphere, its connection to Silence of the Lambs, its overlap with the Satanic Panic, and its use of potentially transphobic serial killer tropes.
Read MoreEp. 302: AMC's Interview with the Vampire
Opening with some spoiler-free thoughts on the show's brilliant lead performances and clever approach to adaptation, Claire and Gavia discuss season 2 of AMC's gothic drama Interview with the Vampire. This episode digs into IWTV's use of unreliable narrators, its thoughtful depiction of abuse and trauma, and its bold attitude to vampiric romance - including glowing praise for the season's final episodes.
Read MoreEp. 301: Desert Hearts
Claire and Gavia discuss the 1985 lesbian romance movie Desert Hearts, directed by Donna Deitch. Set in 1950s Nevada, this groundbreaking film follows a whirlwind relationship between a soon-to-be-divorced New York academic (Helen Shaver) and a devil-may-care casino worker (Patricia Charbonneau).
Among other topics, this episode covers Desert Hearts’ relationship with 1950s romance movies, its unique place in queer film history, and its pitch-perfect lead characters.
Read MoreSteffan and Gavia review George Miller's ambitious and divisive Mad Max prequel Furiosa, starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth. Among other topics, this episode delves into the film's rich mythological worldbuilding, the Mad Max franchise's unique cinematic legacy, and George Miller's rare talent for action and visual storytelling.
Read MoreEp. 299: Hanna
Claire and Gavia review the stylish 2011 action thriller Hanna, directed by Joe Wright (Pride & Prejudice). 16-year-old Saoirse Ronan stars as Hanna, a girl raised in the wilderness by her father (Eric Bana), a former spy. Venturing out into mainstream society for the first time, Hanna must travel alone across Europe while evading a malevolent CIA agent played by Cate Blanchett.
Read MoreEp. 298: Challengers
Claire and Gavia discuss the sweatiest film phenomenon of 2024: Luca Guadagnino's tennis drama Challengers, starring Zendaya, Mike Faist and Josh O'Connor as three athletes embroiled in a love triangle. Among other topics, we cover the star power of the lead actors, the film's already-iconic music, and Guadagnino's distinctive way of depicting sexuality and relationships.
Read MoreEp. 297: Upright
Gavia and Steffan review the Australian dramedy series Upright, starring comedian/songwriter Tim Minchin as a down-on-his luck musician who attempts to drive across Australia with a piano, befriending a teenage runaway (Milly Alcock) along the way.
Read MoreEp. 296: Love Lies Bleeding and highlights from the 2024 Glasgow Film Festival
Claire and Gavia review the much-hyped queer thriller Love Lies Bleeding, starring Kristen Stewart and Katy O'Brien. Plus, a multi-genre selection of highlights from this year's Glasgow Film Festival, including indie hits La Chimera and The Beast, and some excellent upcoming horror movies.
Read MoreEp. 295: Dune: Part Two
Claire and Gavia dig into the blockbuster event of the year, discussing Dune: Part Two's astonishing production design and all-star cast, along with thornier topics like Dune's messy political worldbuilding and director Denis Villeneuve's adaptational changes to the original novel.
Read MoreWest Side Story (2021)
Claire and Gavia discuss Steven Spielberg's acclaimed 2021 adaptation of West Side Story, a musical about two young lovers caught in a turf war between rival gangs. Among other topics we delve into Spielberg's unique technical expertise, West Side Story's complicated political legacy, the lost art of movie-musical filmmaking... and Claire's passionate love for Mike Faist, who earned widespread praise for playing the charismatic gang leader Riff.
Read MoreEp. 293: Poor Things
Gavia and Steffan review Yorgos Lanthimos' Poor Things, a bold sci-fi comedy starring Emma Stone as a woman created through a Frankenstein-like experiment. Nominated for eleven Oscars, Poor Things is critically acclaimed but divisive - particularly regarding its depiction of female sexuality.
Read MoreEp. 292: The Best Films of 2023
Claire and Gavia reveal their top 10 films of 2023, running the gamut from blockbusters (Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning) to A-list awards contenders (Oppenheimer; Killers of the Flower Moon) to indie hits and hidden gems, showcasing a ton of recommendations as awards season heats up.
Read MoreEp. 291: Doctor Who 2023 specials
Gavia and Steffan review the 2023 Doctor Who specials, discussing the return of David Tennant, Catherine Tate and showrunner Russell T. Davies, the arrival of Ncuti Gatwa as the wildly charismatic new Doctor, and various behind-the-scenes details involving the show's quasi-reboot status, creative direction, and new partnership with Disney.
Read MoreEp. 290: The Cutting Edge
Claire and Gav review the beloved 1992 figure skating romcom The Cutting Edge, directed by Paul Michael Glaser (The Running Man) and written by Tony Gilroy (Andor, The Bourne Identity). Harking back to the spiky banter of the 1930s screwball era, sparks fly when a spoiled figure skater and a macho hockey player form an unlikely creative partnership.
Read MoreEp. 289: The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Gavia and Steffan review the new Hunger Games prequel movie, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Among other topics, they delve into its unexpected narrative structure, its political worldbuilding, its relationship to the other Hunger Games movies, and the complicated task of creating a successful prequel.
Read MoreEp. 288: Passages
Claire and Gavia review Ira Sachs’ acclaimed new romantic drama Passages, starring Franz Rogowski, Ben Whishaw and Adele Exarchopoulos. Among other topics, this episode covers the film's refreshing attitude to queer identity, its best-of-the-year costume design, and its thoughtfully choreographed sex scenes.
Read MoreEp. 287: The Exorcist
Gavia and Steffan delve into the iconic 1973 horror movie The Exorcist, discussing its chaotic creative process with director William Friedkin, its lasting impact on the horror genre, and its fantastic craftsmanship as an example of gritty New Hollywood cinema.
Read MoreEp. 286: Shanghai Express
Claire and Gavia discuss the Pre-Code classic Shanghai Express (1932), starring Marlene Dietrich and Anna May Wong. Among other topics, this episode covers Dietrich’s tumultuous creative partnership with director Josef von Sternberg, Anna May Wong’s unique career, and the contrast between Pre-Code cinema and the more heavily censored output of the late 1930s and beyond.
Read MoreEp. 285: Oppenheimer
Claire and Gavia delve into Oppenheimer, discussing the film's relationship with "great man" biopics, its divisive political narrative, its epic ensemble cast, its technical complexity, and Christopher Nolan's underappreciated levels of corniness.
Read MoreEp. 284: Book recommendations with Morgan and Gav
Morgan and Gavia discuss their favorite new books from the past calendar year, ranging from the bestselling Yellowface by R.F. Kuang, to a brilliant hidden gem for fans of queer historical fiction, and new releases in a variety of genres including sci-fi, memoirs and mythic fantasy.
Read More